James City man charged with homicide after selling drugs to man who died

WILLIAMSBURG — Police have charged a James City man with felony homicide on an allegation that he sold heroin to a 28-year-old man who later overdosed and died.

Roy Edgar Morisette, 39, was arrested at a relative's home in Washington, N.C., on Tuesday and charged with distribution of heroin and felony homicide. Felony homicide is a charge for accidental deaths that occur during the course of a felony.

The charge stems from an incident that occurred April 27 when Williamsburg Police officers responded to the 3000 block of Richmond Road to assist medics with a code blue. Upon arrival officers found Christopher Todd Rose, 28, lying between the two beds in a motel room, according to Maj. Greg Riley with Williamsburg Police. Rose was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a press release.

The press release indicated that police observed signs of drug use in the room, including a syringe. Investigation of the incident led police to focus on Morisette, and evidence was later discovered that Morisette provided drugs to Rose, according to the release.

In July, the medical examiner determined Rose's cause of death to be a drug overdose. Morisette was extradited to Virginia on Aug. 22.